“John? Hello? Are you here?” Marlena Evans hoisted her daughter higher on her hip and knocked on the door again. “Wanna knock baby? Knock. Can you say hi daddy?”
“Daddy!” Isabella Black, nicknamed Belle, was a mini-Marlena to a T. The same blonde hair, the same dazzling smile and the same sassy attitude.
“Yeah daddy! Knock knock. Knock on the door. Make a fist.”
“Knock knock. Daddy?” Her tiny fist knocked as hard as she could on the door to John’s loft.
“Okay, what’s the verdict blondie, think daddy’s home? Maybe he’s out for groceries…?” Her daughter’s puzzled look made her heart smile. “Why don’t we get the key and just lock ourselves in huh?” She fiddled with her purse, trying to find the key John had given her to the loft in case of an emergency.
“Lookie here, there we go honey. Go in.” Marlena watched her daughter on unsteady feet walk over to the couch as she struggled to climb up on it.
“John? Hello? Baby, you stay here on the couch. Here’s your blue bear, and mommy will be right back.” She ran up the stairs and quickly sought out John’s bedroom. She heard a soft ‘Marlena’ coming from the room in the back, John’s bathroom. She moved closer as the voice became stronger ‘Aahhh Marlena…’
“John? John are you hurt?” She opened the door to the bathroom and the sight that met her was not the one she expected to see. John. In the shower. Masturbating. “Oh god, sorry!”
“DOC?!” She ran as fast as she could from the bathroom and into the bedroom as John followed, grabbing a towel from the stool next to the shower.
“I’m so sorry I never should have walked right up, I thought maybe you’d fallen asleep, then I heard you saying my name and I thought maybe you’d hurt yourself. I’m so sorry… I, uh, I’m gonna go downstairs.”
“Doc, I’m sorry you walked in on that, can you just try to forget what you saw?”
“Why? Oh geez, yeah, good god. I’ll see you undressed… I mean downstairs! Belle is there, waiting to see… well you, so.” She hadn’t felt this awkward since she’d walked in on her sister and her boyfriend having sex when they were eighteen. She stumbled backwards and knocked down John’s vase as she tried to open the door. “Sorry…” She turned around and closed the door as fast as she could.
In her dust, John was left standing there with a confused smile on his face… “So … Good? … Or bad?”
“Belle, give mommy Brady’s truck…” Quite the feisty and intelligent 2 year old, Belle had stolen her brother’s truck and brought it with her everywhere she went… “Isabella…!” Seeing her mother’s stern look, Belle put the truck down on the floor as John smiled from the background…
“All done… Showered and ready for my playdate with … the most adorable baby girl in the world…” He reached down and grabbed Belle as Marlena ducked.
“Daddy! C’ptah, c’ptah…” Marlena watched her daughter’s smile as her daddy followed instructions and played helicopter with her. She had John wrapped around her tiny little finger. “Mooo…”
“You’re gonna get dizzy soon…”
“Hey, can we talk about… what just happened?”
“Me walking in on you… What do you men call it? Stroking the …”
“Children in the room…”
“Belive me, she won’t know what I’m saying, she won’t know what we’re talking about for hopefully another 40 years.”
“Are you kidding me? She’s your daughter, she’ll have them wrapped around her finger before the first day of pre-school is over…”
“I prefer not to think about that… Growing up, boys… S-e-x… I like this stage…”
“We did make an amazing kid together…”
“Zooooooooo!”
“Zooooooooo!”
“Absolutely amazing… Let’s get you both fed… Then we’ll talk…”
“Mhm… I ordered pizza… It’s meataroni…”
“After what I just saw upstairs, that sounds unbelivably dirty… I thought I’d cook something… I don’t want my daughter to grow up thinking her mother is a world class chinese cook…”
“Her mother’s talents lie elsewhere… Outside of the kitchen…”
“I’m not even going to object against that…” She gave him a playful wink as she walk to the kitchen counter.
“So…?”
“Still unbelievably good… If I can’t find anyone who’ll have me, I’m gonna marry the pizza place owner…” She winked to make her point clear.
“Pizza!!”
“Annnd… she’s learned to say pizza… We’re doomed…” Marlena picked up her daughter and set her on the floor, watching her running towards the couch. She sat down by the counter again, devouring the pizza slice like she hadn’t seen food in days.
“What do you mean if you can’t find anyone who’ll have you? You have plenty of men just waiting for you to point your finger at them.”
“Really? There are plenty of men who want a mother of five? Someone who has three husbands behind her and a mad man obsessed?”
“Honey, you seem to have misunderstood men. Men don’t care about that once they see you in a short, black number. Trust me, I’ve been *this close* to jumping you quite a few times. You wanna know what men see when they see you? They see someone they’d pay to sleep with but that they’re intimidated of.”
“So I’d make a great prostitute, but they’re afraid of me…?” Marlena said, wiping her lips.
“Listen to me… Really. You could ask any man to have sex with you, and they’d jump at the chance, but you’re too strong and independant for them to commit to.”
“Never thought of it that way. So my education is a turn off? Never seemed to bother you…”
“I had a different approach… I realized that I couldn’t live without you… Others don’t take the chance to get there…”
“Charmer… Is that how you get all the ladies into your bed?”
“Got into it…”
“Well… You had the whole heroic ‘saved my life’ thing going for you… The belived marriage license too…”
“Hey, give me a little credit please?”
“Sexually there was nothing wrong with you… I’d do *that* again anytime…” His eyes locked with hers. Time stood still.
“Mama!”
“And there’s the proof of just that… Baby girl, you wanna go play with your
toys…?”
“The horsey! Horsey!” Marlena watched as her daughter ran towards her play horse and then looked at the proud father watching every move.
“Look at that smile… How can the world be so cold and dark when you something that beautiful to look at? Everything just fades away…”
“I know… Only three people have that ability in my life… To make everything seem perfect. My children. My soulmate…”
“Kristen…”
“You.” The ‘you’ came so unexpected, her head snapped to look at him. She knew what he was doing, he was daring her to make the next move…
“Ow…”
“You okay Doc?”
“No. My neck hurts… like … h-e-l-l… Something, I dunno, snapped in it… Does it look wierd, it feels wierd… Please? Just do something, make sure it’s on right…”
“Wow, Marlena, you sure know how to turn a guy on…”
“I’m not kidding! It really really really hurts…” The tears started forming in her eyes and John almost jumped from his chair and led her to the couch.
“Careful… Careful… How’s that?”
“OW! Don’t pinch me! Just take it away! And don’t try to pull something. I know all about you and your massages.”
“With our child in the room? Give me some credit.” His hands worked their magic on her… It was amazing.
“Have you ever noticed that when we’re in the same room like this…”
“… the sparks of sexual tension flies…?”
“Yes…”
“I have noticed… What are we gonna do about that?” Marlena got up from the couch and walked behind him as she leaned down to whisper in his ear.
“Guess we’ll have to wait and see…”
“Did Belle go to sleep alright? Did you give her her bear?” Marlena turned the faucet off and put the dish towel on the counter. She brought two glasses of wine with her to couch as they sat down, facing each other.
“Sleeping like a baby. Felt good to put her to bed… I miss her when she’s not with me…”
“I know. She misses you too…”
“Does she cry out at night screaming ‘Daaaaaddddyyyyy?’?”
“Eh, sure…” John knew she was lying and just sent her a warm smile back… “Well, she’s a hard sleeper…”
“Just like her mommy. I remember once we made love and you fell asleep right in the middle of it. That was great for my ego.”
“I’d been up the whole night with the twins while you’d snored your way through it…”
“Do you ever miss those days?” Marlena looked at him curiously. ‘Is asking what I think he is’? “Having a partner I mean.”
“Defiently… I miss having someone there when I leave, when I come home or when I need someone to talk to… I miss having someone who’ll get up at 4AM to soothe Belle when she’s sick or when Brady has a nightmare… I miss someone who’ll get up before me and make me coffee the way he knows I want it, I miss…” She looked at him, a longing look filling her beautiful face… “Sex…”
An awkward silence filled the room until John walked to the kitchen counter and refilled his glass. “Marlena?”
“John?”
“There was something that I wanted to run by you, just an idea, it’s not even an idea it’s just a thought… Quick in passing, probably stupid…”
Marlena cut him off… “Get to the point please?”
“I want us to move in together…”
“What?”
“For the kids… They can have both of us, you’d never have troubling finding someone to take care of them when you have to get to work in 10 minutes notice because some patient is threatening to commit suicide… Rent would be cheaper, we’re friends and we get along better than any two ex-lovers I’ve ever heard of. But … It’s just a thought.”
“For ‘just a thought’ that is a great salespitch… I don’t know… I mean, you have … Kristen, and if I ever find anyone… I don’t know how … how would we deal with that?”
“I don’t have Kristen. That’s over, it was a chase and it was a rebound, you know
that.”
Marlena stood up and walked to the counter as she faced him. “Then we have a problem because, all those things I said before… What I miss more than anything… is you. I miss you. I miss us. I miss being with you. And when you were with Kristen, that was easier to deal with because you weren’t available, you were taken and I was happy that you were happy.”
“I wasn’t…”
“Please? Let me finish, I need to say this… When I came back and you were with Isabella, Roman came back and we did what was right at the time, for everyone else… We never dealt with those feelings. That’s why the affair happened, we both know that. But even then, we didn’t deal with the feelings that we had for each other. We just moved on. We made a mistake, we moved on and we tried to forget it ever happened. We know what happened. Everyone found out, Roman left me and then… there was Maison Blanche… Roman didn’t leave our marriage because of the affair. That hurt him terribly, but he left because of what happened at Maison Blanche, because I chose you – he felt I chose you. I loved Roman, I still do, I don’t think that will ever really be something I can forget. But there is something that happens when I’m around you that I can’t explain, I just know I can’t fight it. We made the right choice when Roman came back, we did, we put Brady, Sami, Eric and Carrie first. But there was always this part of me, a part of my heart that wondered what would have happened if Roman haden’t come back. That’s awful, and it’s cruel but there it is. You were my soulmate, and as much as I loved Roman and asmuch as we shared, you were the one. You have been since the day I met you. But that’s how it is. We make choices and we have to take the consequenses of those choices. Now… I’m gonna go because I’ve said way too much already, and I need to go before I make a complete fool of myself bringing all this up…”
She put her glass down on the counter top as she felt an arm sneak around her waist and as she looked up all she could feel was John’s lips pressed against hers. God, he felt good. It was tender and soft, everything she’d dreamed of. He could barely breathe as they parted.
“I miss you too… Can I tell you a secret? As much as I loved Isabella, every day, I thought about what had happened if Roman haden’t come back. It’s not cruel, it’s not awful, it’s human nature. People tend to forget that we were in love. We weren’t together because we thought I was Roman and you were Roman’s wife. We were in love. I knew it long before I thought I was Roman. We were deeply in love. That kind of knock-you-over, head-over-heels, die-for-you kind of love that you see in movies. That’s what we had. You were my soulmate, you still are… I won’t try to deny that, because you always will be.”
Blue locked with hazel as that rush of feeling caught them both of guard. He reached for her as their lips crashed together. Marlena pulled away, gasping for
air as she grabbed John’s shirt, trying to rip it off. John pulled her t-shirt off and her pants as they stumbled towards the couch, tounges dueling, hands roaming and moans filling the room. Marlena fell over the end of John’s couch, their lips never leaving each other as they crashed down to the floor, landing between the table and the couch. This wouldn’t be what romantic cliches consisted of. No time for romance or going slow as Marlena sat up, pulling John with her. She quickly pulled his t-shirt off and started unbuckling his belt.
“Marlena…”
“John, I don’t care about what’s right. All I care about is that I want you, and you want me.”
“I was gonna say that the zipper might be a little tricky…”
“Oh…” She giggled as she successfully unbuckled his belt… “We have success…” John captured her lips again and she moaned as she attempted to unzip his pants. “You’re right. It is. Tricky…” Finally, as John kissed her neck, the zipper gave in. “We have lift off.”
“We defiently do…” The strain against his pants confirmed his words. Her hands caressed his hair as he leaned down, placing kisses on her stomach and her arms, moving up towards her mouth. “You are so unbelivably gorgeous, do you know that? You don’t know how many times I’ve fantasized about you… In the shower, in bed, at work, in the car. Almost caused an accident once. You’re my fantasy.”
In a quick move, John had Marlena exactly where he wanted her, on her back. “John, I don’t want you to go slow, we don’t have time for romance right now, I
think we both know that.” John sat up again and removed his pants, the tent that had formed in his boxers very visible. He struggled out of his pants and his boxers as he went to focus on removing her underwear. Black, see-through lace panties. What she’d always worn in his fantasy. He closed and opened his eyes to make sure she was really there.
He was almost painfully hard by now and he pulled her underwear off as quickly as he possibly could. He places the tip of his manhood at her centre and teased her before leaning down to kiss her again. She’d been watching him as he undressed, her bedroom eyes filled with desire. He pulled her right leg up into the air as he kissed his way from her calf to her knee and further down to her thigh. Her soft moans was like music to his ears and he moved up to kiss her again. He latched onto his neck, switching between kissing and nibbling softly, leaving small marks in his trace. Marlena was desperate and in a final plea, she whisper into his ear.
“Fuck me, sailor…”
He was hardly strong willed enough to object and he definitely had no plans to.
Three rounds and 45 minutes later, Marlena sunk down on top of John and slid
comfortably into the nook of his arm.
“Holy…”
“Shit!”
“I know! Either we’re really, really, really horny, and would take just about any sex
at this point, or…”
“We just get better!”
“Yeah! Baby, that was out of this world…”
“I know. Even I didn’t know sex could be so…”
“I know!”
“Wow…”
“Can you stay the night?”
“Sure… I can stay the night…”
“We should probably go upstairs.”
“Let me just grab something to drink and some snacks. I have a feeling this night’s just getting started…”
“And who am I to tell you your feelings aren’t correct huh?”
Marlena slipped into John’s shirt and walsed over to the kitchen counter, a feeling of happiness filling her inside. It felt right. She felt two arms wrapping themselves around her waist and John’s lips kissing her earlobe.
“I think we should work up even more of an appetite. What do you think?”
“Best idea you ever had.” She turned in his arms as they stumbled towards the stairs that led to John’s bedroom, unable to combine walking the stairs and kissing at the same time. John grabbed her and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he walked them both to the bedroom. Once he was finally in the sanctuary of his bedroom, John threw Marlena onto the bed as the renewed lovers once again succumbed to passion.
Sitting in the middle of John’s bed, Marlena Evans felt like she was on top of the world. She was satisfied, happy and … what was that feeling she haden’t recongnized in a while… hopeful. Who could have know that true happiness was two happy children safely asleep, a crazy one night stand and some salty potato chips in bed?
“John, we need to talk about this.”
“About what?” He threw the beers onto the bed and jumped in with her.
“What just happened. This, us, the sex. I’m not gonna go all shrink on you and ask you to analyze it because we could both be admitted for sex mania if they thought this was the norm. Are you happy?”
“No. I’ve been happy, and I know that what I’m feeling right now is so beyond happy that I need to learn new words to describe this feeling. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, you know that? Everything good in my life comes from you. My friends, my life, my children…”
“Brady…”
“Isabella gave birth to Brady, but you’re his mom, there’s no question about that. You’re the one he wants to have tuck him in at night, you’re the one he cries for when he has a nightmare, you’re the one who saw him take his first steps, he gave you his first real smile… Isabella is his mother, but you’re his mom.”
“Thank you… What you said earlier, about moving in together. Do you still mean that?” John nodded. “Okay, but! We need some groundrules. We can’t tell anyone about this night. Nothing, not even a hint. We saw what happened the last time we had an affair, we need to keep this on the downlow. Let’s just take things slow. We need two master bedrooms, to keep up appearances and… well, we both know we can get on each other’s last nerve at times. We share all expenses the way it comes naturally, I don’t want you to pay for everything just because your family has money. That’s not me and you know that.”
“Fair enough… How about location? Where do you wanna live?”
“Anything is perfect, as long as it’s close to our friends, not too big, not too small… And a swimming pool would be nice. You know, for late night skinny dipping…”
“Why didn’t I suggest this before? I’m too slow.” He slowly leaned over to kiss her lips. A moan escaped her lips as she leaned over him.
“Slow can be good.” He let her fall on top of him, kissing her slowly, passion arising again and the chips and beer soon forgotten.
The sun rose over the town of Salem as the two lovers lay entangled on the large couch. John stirred as the sun hit his eyes and he heard his daughter talking to herself through the baby monitor. “Badyyy… Mama… Boot… Ice Cweam….”
“Just like her mother.” John said as he heard her daughter mention ice cream.
“Turn off the light…” Marlena mumbled from underneath John.
“I’ll tell the big man to go easy with the sun. Morning baby…” He kissed the spot between her neck and her shoulder, he knew that was a sensitive spot for her.
“Belle…”
“She’s talking to herself in her bed. I was thinking we could all go to the pub together to pick him up, have a long lunch before we go house hunting?” She turned around and looked up at him as he hovered above her.
“Still sure you wanna do this? You and me. Very different. We’re like gasoline and a match. We could make magic, or we could combust into disaster. We’re both independant. This could be the worst thing we could possibly do.”
“We’re both independant, but we’re also both very easy going and determind to make things work. So, maybe you’re right… Maybe moving in together is the worst thing we could do… Or maybe it could be the best thing that ever happened to all of us… Belle and Brady would have their own rooms. We could have a kitchen… for appearance sake and you know … ordering dinner. We could have the nice litte suburban family life style. Family dinner on Sundays, poker nights…”
“Strip poker?”
“Strip poker with Abe, Lexie, Bo and Hope? Or Jack and Jennifer fighting over who *really* has the best cards because Jack feels the rules of poker are wrong? Plus, you suck at poker so everyone would see you naked, and that’s a sight for sore eyes I’d rather keep for myself.”
“Twister? You and me, on top of each other with the excuse of playing a game? Every shrink’s fantasy to mess with people’s minds like that.”
“Let’s just figure out where to live first okay? Do you want a helicopter pad on the roof?”
“You’re a riot Johnny! Go set the coffee maker and I’ll get Belle dressed.” John nuzzled his nose to hers as she stood up and pulled the sheet off him, wrapping it around herself.
Marlena sat Belle on John’s bed and she dressed her in a cute little white outfit. Kneeling down she looked her daughter in the eyes. “You’re the only one here without an agenda kid, how do you feel about all of us moving to a big house together? You, me, Brady and daddy in a house.”
“‘ouse! Bady ouse.”
“That’s what I thought. I love you. I love this nose, and this forehead… and this little, ticklish belly…” She watched Belle squirm as she tickled her sides. “Let’s go get daddy.”
“Daddy!” Brady ran as fast as his little legs could carry him towards his father and jumped up and wrapped his arms around him.
“Hey big guy, did you have a good time with grandma and grandpa?”
“We made s’mores.”
“Really? S’mores? Didn’t know I’d be missing out on so much…”
“Mommy…”
“Kiss?” Marlena pointed to her cheek as Brady planted a long wet kiss on it to Belle’s thrill.
“Hi Marlena…”
“Hi Caroline, did he behave?”
“He sure did. Absolute angel. Went to bed when he was told too. Nice job with
this one.”
“We try. Anyway, we’re here for lunch. Belle wants a ‘seesbudder’ and I’m thinking that’d be good for all of us. We have a big day ahead.”
“Really? You going on a trip?”
“No… We’re house hunting…”
“You… two? House hunting? Together? I’m so happy for you two, how long have you been…?” Caroline’s eyes filled with tears of happiness as she talked.
“Oh, we’re not. We just both need to start over in a new place. No history, no stuff. We’re not ‘together’, just friends. Best friends. Who live together. With their kids. It’ll be good for Brady and Belle to have their own rooms, since they’re growing up and developing their personalities, not to be in the same room and sharing everything. Plus, that way, it’s easier for us to spend time with them whenever we want, or to get a baby sitter for both of them in a short notice. Just makes sense.”
“Oh, I thought… I’m sorry. That’s good. Now what can we get you? Four cheeseburgers, two cokes, one apple juice, one orange juice and one salad for Marlena.”
“You know us too well…”
“You’re family darling. Sit down wherever you want, Lisa will bring your food as soon as it’s done.”
“Thank you Caroline. Baby, don’t eat your hair.” She sat Belle down in the high chair Shawn brought for them and as the happy little family sat down for lunch, they didn’t notice the older woman behind the counter eyeing them suspiciously. “Something is going on with those two, I don’t know what it is, but it’s something… Just friends…” Caroline whispered to Shawn.
Someday So Soon By: Linn
“Beautiful location…”
“Which we now know can be deceiving… Just keep an open mind.” He held the door open for her as they stepped into the wooden house.
“Mr Black and Dr Evans?” A dark haired woman, her half frightened look telling them she was new at this game, greeted them from the stairs that led upstairs.
“That’s us. Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. Whatcha got for us?”
“This house was built in the beginning of the nineteen hundreds and it was redone last year with brand new appliances and added a guest house and a pool.”
“Does it have a helicopter pad?”
“I’m sorry sir, no it doesn’t…”
“Well, then we’re the ones who are sorry.”
“He’s just joking. He has a bad sense of humor and a lot of coffee in him, I’m sorry.” She tried to hide her amusement.
An hour later of exploring the house and the area around it, John held onto Marlena’s hand so tightly she thought she was going to pass out. “10 bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms, one master bedroom with a bathroom and sauna, two offices, three living areas, one is upstairs next to the master bedroom, the other two downstairs. The couple that lived here had a child on the way so there is a nursery already set up if you two plan on adding to your adorable two children.”
Marlena answered quickly. “No… No plans…” John felt a sense of sadness that her answer had been so quick and firm.
“A small work out room, laundry appliances came with the asking price, the room is downstairs and leading out to the spectacular porch that is truly why I would
buy the house if I could afford it. Spectacular view, swimming pool, hot tub and of course the guest house in the back.” She pulled her file holder closer to her as
she looked at John & Marlena. “Feel free to have a better look, and if you have any questions, I’ll be downstairs.” The real estate agent walked quickly down the
stairs, leaving one determind and one dissatisfied house buyer behind.
“Thank you…”
“Well?” John turned to Marlena.
“I love it. John, it’s perfect. It’s airy, it’s not *too* big, it has a view, a pool and it’s really classic…”
“I don’t know Doc…”
“Ok, bring on your issues with it…”
“For starters, it’s an old house…”
“Completey redone last year. Next?”
“It’s kind of… spooky. People have probably died here… There could be ghosts…”
“With our past, that’s the least of our problems. Next?”
“Ten bedrooms Doc, ten. Do we even know that many people?”
“Ten bedrooms means the kids don’t have to sleep in the same room and feel crowded, plus, we can do 5 and 5. You decide on decorations for five and I do five. Next?”
“It’s … far away from the town?”
“You can’t drive ten minutes to get home after work? Next.”
“It’s too… classic… Doesn’t feel like us.”
“We can redecorate it with a more timeless and modern feel. More?”
“You’re pretty?”
“I knew it! So…? Wait, just one second…” She pulled a picture out of her purse and held it up in front of him. “Imagine that pout in addition to mine. Pretty please?”
“What’s in it for me?”
“Sexual favors? And I promise to never cook unless your life and the kids’ depend on it.”
“You’re gonna bribe me with sex and never attempting to cook? You do love this house.”
“I really do, really really do. It’s just … us. Did you see the porch and the hot tub? When I imagined growing up when I was a kid, this is the kind of house I imagined
myself in. Everything is just perfect. Again, I mention sexual favors. Just, you know, if it changes your mind in any way.” She made sure to keep his eyes pinned on
her, knowing exactly how to convince him to do something he didn’t want to do.
“We’ll buy the house. You’re a pain in the ass when you’ve got your heart set on something.”
“I know.” He pulled her into a hug.
“You won’t regret this, I promise.”
“You know that you’re now officially my slave right?”
“I know.” She kissed him once before she pulled back and looked him in the eyes. “We have a house.”
“Be careful okay, those plates are expensive.” Marlena was in full packing mode, organizing and giving John directions on what goes where. This was the last day, and they were packing up the last things to bring to the new house. The penthouse was basically empty
“Honey, I’ll buy you new plates if you want or if we break these.”
“Just keep packing. Belle, go get your big bear, and Brady, get your shoes from the closet please.”
“Mommy, where are we going again?”
“To the new house. Remember we went there a few days ago? By the lake? Speaking of which, did you decide which room you want Brady? The one with the cars on the wall?”
“Yes. Mommy, can Patrick come visit me at the new house?”
“Of course… You know what we’ll do? Come here… Ahh, I need a break.” Marlena was amazed, because as Brady walking over to her, he brought her water bottle with him. The heart in that kid never ceased to amaze her. “You know we’ll do?”
“Dunk daddy in the lake?”
“Hey!”
“That too. But once we’ve settled in and we’ve painted the rooms we’re gonna use, we’re gonna invite everyone we like and we’re gonna have a big party in the backyard. And we’ll have hot dogs and sodas and ice cream. And we’ll dress up grandpa Brady as a clown.”
“I love clowns. Can we not invite Kristen?”
“I wasen’t planning on it. Why?”
“I don’t like her. She made me mad.”
“Why did she make you mad hon?”
“Cause she made you sad all the time, and daddy stopped smiling. And she dressed funny. She looked like the ladies on uncle Bo’s grown up movies.”
“Grown up movies?”
“He told me not to tell auntie Hope too so don’t tell her ok?” Marlena could barely contain her laughter at the notion that Bo had adult movies Hope didn’t know about.
“So, no Kristen at the party, and don’t tell Hope. You’re an easy kid to please.”
“I try.” Marlena snuggled in closer to her son as she kissed him all over his face until Brady squirmed his way out of her arms, laughing.
“Stand still! Don’t move an inch lady.”
“Now what…? Do I have a bug on me?” John walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Do you ever take a break? Cause now is the perfect time. The kids are asleep, the movers are gone, and I thought…” He gently pushed her towards the living room while he gently nibbled on her jaw. “Now would be the perfect time to christen this house. At least the living room.”
“Do you ever think about something else? A break would be nice though… I would really.” She kissed his neck. “Really…” Moving up to his nose. “Really…” And down to his lips… “Like.” She leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Some pizza.” She unwrapped herself from his arms with a grin on her face as she giggled, knowing he’d stop her before she even came 5 feet within the kitchen area.
“Come back here you…” He grabbed Marlena’s arm and pulled her down to the floor. “You foolish, foolish woman…” Marlena giggled as John dove in and kissed her. Movers forgotten, kids safe and no one in the world besides John & Marlena.
“You’re beautiful.”
“No.”
“Yes, you are. Right here, right now, you’ve never looked more beautiful. Your face all red, your hair messed up, your lips so swollen and pouty. Beautiful. The way your body is sort of pulled together to keep staying warm and your eyes are shining. Beautiful.” He leaned in a whisper so low she could barely hear him. “Turn on your stomach.” She did as he asked and he leaned over here, his fingers trailing up and down her backside as he laid on top of her.
“Do you know that massage part is supposed to be before the sex part? Foreplay…”
“Shh, be quiet. We’re not going to get much silence in this house, so let’s enjoy it shall we?” He slid down to her side and placed his hand under her thigh as he trailed upwards and rested his hand on her stomach. “I love you. I want you to remember that when certain people find out we’ve moved in together, and try to mess up your head with lies, or try to trick you. No one has ever loved anyone as much as I love you and our kids. All of them, and all of you. Even your strange ability to unpack ten boxes before I’ve even gone up the stairs. Which frankly baby, is kinda creepy.” She rolled around and pushed him on his back and straddled him.
“Stop talking. Enjoy naptime.” She leaned down, her lips crashing on his before he once again rolled them over, the cool of the floor startling them both. He stopped them before they reached the couch, pinning her against the cool wooden floor while he slowly sat up, pulling her foot upwards to rest on his shoulder before he gently entered her again.
Marlena bit her lip while she looked up at the beautiful man in front of her. She’d always had faith that somehow fate would pull them back to that magical place, but she’d never imagined how happy she could be in the average family. There had always been threats in her life, ever since Roman entered it. She’d never gotten to give her children a normal family with dinner on the table every night at six thirty and friday cuddling nights. She liked it.
John kissed her calf before he gently put her leg down, while he gently pushed his erect penis further inside her. He helped her sit halfway up while he continue to stroke slowly back and forth, knowing that was what she needed now. He pulled her all the way up, resting his back against the edge of the couch while Marlena straddled his lap. He loved making love to her this way, and he knew Marlena loved the intimacy while being in charge of the pace. She rocked slowly on top of as she continued to kiss him. They both knew it wouldn’t take long this time.
There was nothing in the world that she knew better than John’s body. Not psychiatry, not the way to the mall or the grocery store, not even herself. But she knew him. She knew that he loved it when she gently kissed and bit the place between his shoulder and his neck, and that he hated whenever someone felt they couldn’t trust in themselves or the nature of goodness to get what they needed. And that’s what he loved about her, that she knew him. That was why they couldn’t stay away from each other three years ago.
She gently touched his face as she kissed him and breathed in his scent while continuing to rock slowly back and forth. John felt her body tense up as she leaned back to increase the pleasure of him inside her. He gently massaged her breast as he kissed her neck, his other hand tangled in her hair.
As they slowly calmed down, Marlena stayed on top of him while John kissed her, placing short, nibbling kisses all over her face. After a few minutes, he pulled himself up, reached for her hand as they laid down on the couch, side by side. Just as he reached for the blanket to throw on top of her, noticing her fast asleep already, he heard Belle and Brady walking down the stairs. He quickly threw on his jeans and shirt just as his son walked in, talking loudly.
“Mommy, I want a cookie.”
“Shhh, Belle… Mommy’s sleeping…”
“How come mommy have no clothes on?”
“Because, Brady, she spilled something all over them and then she was really really sleepy. Why don’t we go into the kitchen and get those cookies huh?” He grabbed each other kids by the hand.
“Can I have the chocolate cookie? Mommy always lets me have the chocolate one then she says that we can’t tell you because you’re a nut head.”
“You mean a health nut?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said.” Unable to look behind him, holding two busy kids by the hand, John didn’t see the smile that appeared on a resting Marlena’s face. She was home.
“Mommy, mommy, mishis is here.”
“Okay, you go open the door baby, is Belle still upstairs?” Too late. The boy was already rushing towards the door. Marlena turned to John and rolled her eyes. “I think we need to hint to him about a new nickname for Alice.” Mishish was Brady’s chosen term of endearment of Alice Horton. He’d heard his father refer to her as Mrs Horton and his attempt to say Mrs had come out an adorable ‘mishish’. She followed her son towards the door.
“Alice, hi!”
“Marlena, darling. The house is beautiful.”
“It does, it looks beautiful.”
“Thank you Maggie. Where’s Mickey?”
“Checking out the trees by the lake, don’t ask why…”
“Well, come on in. Brady, why don’t you show them the room for the coats?” She whispered to Maggie as Brady took Alice by the hand, leading her towards the small walk in closet. “He loves being included in these things. He’s proud of it.”
“It’s a beautiful home Marlena, really. You have it all. A home, your kids, your best friend, your … soulmate.”
“Okay, matchmakers… Why don’t you go outside, I figured we’d do a little tour once everyone arrives. John has drinks and some snacks ready by the grill. Right through the kitchen and you’ll see the tall doofy guy with rediculous chef hat, cooking the burgers and hot dogs.” As soon as she’d finished, the bell rang once again and she opened it quick, watching as Maggie supported Alice as they walked towards the patio.
“Hey Mickey. Wow, you brought the whole Brady clan with you didn’t you?”
“Hi beautiful. This house is stunning, especially the lake. Late nights down there with the kids has to be perfect.” Marlena just stayed in her place as she watched one family member greet her as they walked in and admired her home.
Marlena stood by the table, listening as Bo told the gang of his latest case when she saw John looking in her direction. The grin on his face made her giddy and she gave him a wink before she excused herself to get a refill of soda inside. She didn’t notice John following her before she felt him tugging on her arm, pulling her into the living room where his lips crashed down on hers before she was able to say a word. When they finally pulled apart for air, Marlena was out of breath.
“What was that?”
“Just because.”
“Thank you. Everything ok? You know, if you don’t stop looking at me like that, you’re gonna ruin our food and unless you plan on ordering pizza or chinese food for 30 or 40 people, you need to save the food. That’s the downside of me being a lousy cook.”
“Now that’s just wrong.”
“You don’t think I’m a lousy cook?”
“No, I think it’s a little rude and presumptious of you to even call what you do with food in the kitchen cooking. Now, as for the other things you do in the kitchen. Not lousy at all.”
“Thank god for fire alarms or we’d have burned down the house.” She gave him one last kiss before she went back to the kitchen, smiling as he walked past her and stood beside her, waiting for his special sauce to finish on the stove. She gently nudged him before she pinched his butt. It didn’t take him three seconds to move his hand to her back, slowly moving it down to cup her behind. She looked at him, as the two shared a long, desire filled look.
“Mommy, mommy, mishis is here.”
“Okay, you go open the door baby, is Belle still upstairs?” Too late. The boy was already rushing towards the door. Marlena turned to John and rolled her eyes. “I think we need to hint to him about a new nickname for Alice.” Mishish was Brady’s chosen term of endearment of Alice Horton. He’d heard his father refer to her as Mrs Horton and his attempt to say Mrs had come out an adorable ‘mishish’. She followed her son towards the door.
“Alice, hi!”
“Marlena, darling. The house is beautiful.”
“It does, it looks beautiful.”
“Thank you Maggie. Where’s Mickey?”
“Checking out the trees by the lake, don’t ask why…”
“Well, come on in. Brady, why don’t you show them the room for the coats?” She whispered to Maggie as Brady took Alice by the hand, leading her towards the small walk in closet. “He loves being included in these things. He’s proud of it.”
“It’s a beautiful home Marlena, really. You have it all. A home, your kids, your best friend, your … soulmate.”
“Okay, matchmakers… Why don’t you go outside, I figured we’d do a little tour once everyone arrives. John has drinks and some snacks ready by the grill. Right through the kitchen and you’ll see the tall doofy guy with rediculous chef hat, cooking the burgers and hot dogs.” As soon as she’d finished, the bell rang once again and she opened it quick, watching as Maggie supported Alice as they walked towards the patio.
“Hey Mickey. Wow, you brought the whole Brady clan with you didn’t you?”
“Hi beautiful. This house is stunning, especially the lake. Late nights down there with the kids has to be perfect.” Marlena just stayed in her place as she watched one family member greet her as they walked in and admired her home.
Marlena stood by the table, listening as Bo told the gang of his latest case when she saw John looking in her direction. The grin on his face made her giddy and she gave him a wink before she excused herself to get a refill of soda inside. She didn’t notice John following her before she felt him tugging on her arm, pulling her into the living room where his lips crashed down on hers before she was able to say a word. When they finally pulled apart for air, Marlena was out of breath.
“What was that?”
“Just because.”
“Thank you. Everything ok? You know, if you don’t stop looking at me like that, you’re gonna ruin our food and unless you plan on ordering pizza or chinese food for 30 or 40 people, you need to save the food. That’s the downside of me being a lousy cook.”
“Now that’s just wrong.”
“You don’t think I’m a lousy cook?”
“No, I think it’s a little rude and presumptious of you to even call what you do with food in the kitchen cooking. Now, as for the other things you do in the kitchen. Not lousy at all.”
“Thank god for fire alarms or we’d have burned down the house.” She gave him one last kiss before she went back to the kitchen, smiling as he walked past her and stood beside her, waiting for his special sauce to finish on the stove. She gently nudged him before she pinched his butt. It didn’t take him three seconds to move his hand to her back, slowly moving it down to cup her behind. She looked at him, as the two shared a long, desire filled look.
“Thank you all for coming tonight, thank you for being such great supporters and baby sitters, and most of all, for just being yourselves.” Marlena raised her glass and watched the gang gathered in her backyard do the same. “Cheers!”
“Marlena, the food is wonderful. Now, when do we get to see the house?”
“Oh, we can go right now if you’d like. Everyone, gather up, act like children and get in a lin, time for the very first tour of the Casa De Evans slash Black.”
Marlena led the group up the stairs, letting Belle and Brady show their family around, proudly showing off their toys and play room. John was excited, this day had gone perfectly so far.
“Dat’s is the big room…” Brady pointed to the large bedroom at the end of the hallway, as he ran towards the door with Belle following suit.
“That’s daddy’s room.”
“… mommy’s room.” The two said simutaniously. John watched as the color disappeared from Marlena’s face before she quickly stuttered.
“These two, getting everything mixed up. This is mommy’s room, remember? Daddy *let* mommy have the big room because she has more clothes and stuff?” Her stern look reminded the two children of the secret they’d been let in on and Brady slapped his forehead.
“Duh! Mommy has the girlie things and the big closet. Daddy, where’s your room again, I forgot.”
“That’s okay kid. My room is really messy actually, Marlena keeps reminding me that she’s not my maid, but I just can’t seem to pick stuff up or clean it up. You can see it some other time, promise.”
Maggie had watched as Marlena turned white and she was thoroughly convinced. “Seperate rooms my behind.”
“Thanks for coming folks, drive safe!” Marlena waved the last three guests off and leaned against the closed door. “Thank. God. Honey? Hug. Tired. Sleep. Can you bring me a bottle of water?”
“Coke okay?”
“Whatever.” John had shed his pants, walking in wearing boxers and his nice shirt. Marlena contained a laugh. “Sexy underwear.”
“You don’t care, you want them off anyway.”
“Remind me again why I suggested having guests over, I have never been this tired. I think. Maybe after giving birth, but besides that, never. My back, my eyes, my throat, my… feet. I need to stop carrying Belle around. She’s what, three now, let her fend for herself.”
“What’s with the bitchy mood?”
“I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“You seriously wanna have this fight? You know how it’ll go. We’ll yell, wake the kids, get them to go to sleep again, eat, fight again and I’ll bat my baby blues, give you some lovin’ and you’ll spill your guts. That act is getting old, so just tell me.”
“Peter asked me to have an affair with him.”
“Excuse me?”
“Peter came over to me, before dinner, right before we had some fun in the laundry room and asked me what I thought about seeing Brady and Abby up for a playdate so we could … play. I can’t belive the nerve of that guy! Jennifer was practically standing right behind him and he was begging me to sleep with him. And… I don’t know if I should tell Jenn about it. She’s always saying how happy they are, ya know, how everything’s perfect. Jack is in her life the way she needs him to, she’s happily married and Abby’s doing great. I don’t even know how to say it. He was just creepy. Just like…”
“… Stefano…”
“It freaked me out.”
“Did you say yes?”
“What? Yes, because having sex with you two-three-four times a day just isen’t enough.”
“What an asshole.”
“Here’s a thought… Take my mind off Peter Blake.”
“That is a thought…”
“I meant a massage… Some oils, cream and delicious muscle pain.” She leaned against him and was whispering as she kissed his neck. She stood up and reached for his hand.
“Doc… Can we…”
“Not have sex tonight? I so agree. Too. Tired.”
“Thank god.” John turned off the main light in the foyer and yawned as he followed Marlena up the stairs. He loved grown up relationships.
The Jarlena Journal 